Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Lviv region: Gov't to allot extra funding for International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Yavoriv
On Tuesday, October 21, in the framework of his working visit to Lviv region Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk
attended an International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Yavoriv
.
The Head of Government emphasized that the International Peacekeeping and
Security Centre is a vast military training center of
Ukraine. Here were trained about eight thousand military personnel, who are now
participating in ATO, "the guys that are fighting now for the independence
of Ukraine, as a rule, perfect their skills in the Center”.
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Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed that to develop the Centre it is necessary
additional financing. He noted that he had held talks with the head of the Center Colonel Olexandr Ostapchuk
on this issue, "it is necessary to allot extra funding for dormitories
and medical care". The PM informed that at its session on October 22,
the Cabinet of Ministers is to decide on allocation of additional funds for
the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre until the end of the year. According to him, for the Armed Forces "not just equipment is
important, but training is essential as well", "This Centre should
become the fundament for education and training of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces." The PM promised he would initiate talks with the western partners, in
particular with NATO, "NATO has opened four trust funds. I am convinced
that certain funds of technical assistance that are offered by the NATO
should be transferred to the training center to
meet the highest standards, including those applicable in the
countries-members of the Alliance”. The military demonstrated to Arseniy Yatsenyuk the samples of weapons, which are used by mechanized, special and other subdivisions. The cadets showed the shooting skills with use of small arms and close combat weapons, while fighters of the 80-th airmobile regiment demonstrated the BMP-1 technical characteristics and operation. The Prime Minister told that those days were gone "when the Armed
Forces of Ukraine should have possessed small weapons like the Makarov pistol". "They are still in use till
nowadays. But we have our original Ukrainian weapons, the same applies to the
heavy armored equipment," said Arseniy
Yatsenyuk, and reminded that there had been purchased for the National Guard about
one and a half thousand pieces of military equipment”. "The new Defense Minister, whom I
respect and see as a strong leader, has now engaged into upgrading and
purchasing of new equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. By the year’s end, I hope overall amount
worth UAH 18 billion, that were allocated from the Reserve Fund for the defense doctrine and the defense
industry of the country, will be utilised", said Arseniy Yatsenyuk. According to him, the purpose of a sum worth UAH 1,5 billion hasn’t been planned by the Armed Forces of Ukraine yet, "But it provides an opportunity for the
new Defense Minister to define additional needs: what military equipment is to purchase for the Ukrainian Armed
Forces". Arseniy Yatsenyuk has tested an armoured personnel
carrier. The Head of Government assessed the professionalism of
the
BMP driver and highlighted the need to upgrade the machinery for
the AFU. |